Dan Carter is targeting a return to Super Rugby action in the Crusaders' round five clash
with the Cheetahs.

The All Blacks playmaker has recovered from the groin injury that ruled him out of the latter stages of the Rugby World Cup and is well rested after a two-month break.

The Cheetahs game - slated for March 24 - will be the first played at the new Christchurch Stadium following the deadly 2011 earthquake and Carter is keen to be a part of it after a year on the road.

"It'll be huge, but obviously I've got a lot of work to do before then," he told The New Zealand Herald.

"It's going to be a very important one for Christchurch and I'd love to be out and part of that game, so I'm working extremely hard to try and get that. But obviously it's up to Toddy [Blackadder, Crusaders coach], and I can do whatever I can in the next few weeks to be playing."

Carter is back in training and will progress to goal-kicking in the coming weeks. In his absence, former New Zealand Under-20 fly-half Tyler Bleyendaal has been pulling the strings for the franchise, who opened their campaign with a narrow win over the Blues last weekend.

"I'm refreshed now, the body feels good, the groin's good, and the excitement levels are right up there," Carter said.